Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-06-23
NEW ISSUES.

Men who 60 out hunting for new is
sues in politics make it clear that they
do not fully comprehend the nature of
the issues that require no hunting. 1t
is childish to fancy that the nation can
be diverted from questions upon which
the welfare of every citizen depends,
and the very existence of free institu-
tiOns, by some novel codtrivsnce. ss a
baby is pleased with new rattle. The
frivolous and thoughtless may at times
be so diverted. But the great body of
practical and intelligent voters know
that the questions upon which they
have been voting are real and vital, and
they refuse for the sake of any novelty
to let 60 their hold upon national poli+
tics which secure or promise solid pros
perity. From honest convictions they
will 60 on voting as before, until events
make it plain to them that the public
welfare depends more upon some new
policy or measure than upon those for
which they have been contending.
There are ten million voters, of whom
at least three quarters have strong be-
liefs in regard to the tariff. Not argu-
ing as to what kind of tariff is needed,
they agree In realizing that the question
affects the success of great industries.
and therefore, directly or indirectly, the
personal welfare Of every citizen. Some
of them firmly believe that duties on
imported articles burden the great ma.
jority for the benefit of a few. Others
firmly believe that the diversifcation of
industry which is attained through Pro-
lection insures inestimable benefits to
every citizen, makes the nation strong
in peace and war, and prevents,as moth
ing else can, that degradation of labor
from which spring the grsvest social
and political peails. These voters, hsv-
ing such beliefs, would be most childish
to abandon efforts in behalf of them, ,un-
til convinced that the public prosperity
is to be more largely and surely promot-
ed by efforts in some other direction.
The situation is substantially the
same in regard to financial matters. A
great majority of the voters have strong
and deeply rooted beliefs respecting that
question. Some of them firmly believe
that expansion of the currency is neces>
sary to the general welfare; that it de-
fends the poor against the undue power
of the rich; that it helps labor against
capital. Others with equal earnestness
believe that restriction Of the currency
is necessary, alike for the maintenance
of public faith and for the development
of industrial prosperity. Each OF these
great bodies of citizens has been strivr
ing for years to secure the public pros
perity through the measures they deem
necessary. 1t is not strange that they
feel that 1t would be in the last degree
childish to abandon those efforts, Affect
ing so clearly the welfare of individual
citizens in every part of the country, ,un-
til they are thoroughly convinced that
more can be done through other meas
ures to promote the general welfare.
In like manner the question of hon
esty In elections and freedom in suffrage |
at the south has seemed and still seems, |
to great body of citizens. more impor
tant than any other living question. OPP |
posed to them are not merely those po
litical managers In the southern states |
who have secured victories by fraudu>
lent methods, but large body of citi-
zens who feel that the existing evils in
southern political life. whatever they |
may be, can only be corrected by action |
within the southern states, and cannot
be removed or lessened by any protest |
or interference in northern states or by |
the general government. This issue
goes to the very foundation of our free
institutions. Through one policy or the
other. it is necessary to look for an
abatement of the evils which, if per-
mitted to continue, render self govern
ment for all of us a fraud or farce. 1t
would be childish in the last degsee to
suppose that citizens having these be-
liefs will suddenly put them aside. be
cause some new political contrivance
rattles in their ears, unless convinced
that the welfare of the country depends
more Immediately upon action in q new
direction.
The old issues are not dead, because
they go to the root of political action In
q free government. Others could be
named, AS every thoughtful citizen will
perceive. which are equally fundsmen
tai in character. These exist, and hx the
attention of citizens, because their rsds
ical and lasting Importance Is known.
Those are foolish who imagine that di'
visions of opinion on such questions can
be suddenly brushed away by inventing
some new political issue.-N. Y. Tribune